Catch device for an automatic firing weapon

ABSTRACT

A catch device for an automatic firing weapon comprising a breechblock which can be displaced from a rearward position into a firing position and a pivotal catch element which, when assuming its catch position, extends into the path of travel of the breechblock and behind which catch element there can engage a blocking element for catching the breechblock shortly prior to reaching its firing position. A second catch element is provided which is engageable from the rear by the blocking element. When the blocking element engages behind the second catch element the latter is moved against the force of a first spring into the path of the breechblock. The first-mentioned catch element, when the blocking element is not engaged therebehind, under the influence of the force of a second spring, extends into the path of the breechblock, and the breechblock is caught by the second catch element at a different location than by the first catch element.

ilnited States Patent [191 [111 3,821,920 Brieger July 2, 1974 CATCHDEVICE FOR AN AUTOMATIC Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley FIRINGWEAPON Inventor: Hans Brieger, Zurich, Switzerland Assignee:Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG, Zurich, Switzerland Filed:July 13, 1973 Appl. No.: 379,187

Foreign Application Priority Data July 28, 1972 Switzerland 11323/72U.S. Cl 89/132, 89/136, 89/148,

89/181, 89/190 Int. Cl. F4141 11/02 Field of Search 89/132, 136, 148,176,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1969 Brieger 89/190 Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Werner W. Kleeman [57] ABSTRACT A catch device for anautomatic firing Weapon comprising a breechblock which can be displacedfrom a rearward position into a firing position and a pivotal catchelement which, when assuming its catch position, extends into the pathof travel of the breechblock and behind which catch element there canengage a blocking element for catching the breechblock shortly prior toreaching its firing position. A second catch e1- ement is provided whichis engageable from the rear by the blocking element. When the blockingelement engages behind the second catch element the latter is movedagainst the force of a first spring into the path of the breechblock.The first-mentioned catch element, when the blocking element is notengaged therebehind, under the influence of the force of a secondspring, extends into the path of the breechblock,

and the breechblock is caught by the second catch element at a differentlocation than by the first catch element.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Y ID I213 PATENTEDJUL' 2 I91 SHEET 1 m 3(821,920

ATENTEDJ 21974 sum 3 OF 3 Yap CATCH DEVICE FOR AN AUTOMATIC FIRINGWEAPON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to anew and improved catch device for an automatic gun or firing weaponcomprising a breech mechanism or breechblock which is displaceable froma rearward position into a firing position, and further incorporates apivotal catch element which, in its catch position, extends into thepath of movement of the breechblock and a blocking element is engageablebehind the catch element for catching the breechblock prior to reachingits firing position.

Upon rupture of the lever the catch device is no longer functional.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide an improved construction of catch device for anautomatic firing weapon which is not associated with the aforementioneddrawbacks and limitations of the prior art constructions.

Another and more specific object of the present invention aims at theprovision of an improved construction of catch device for an automaticfiring weapon which ensures that the function of the catch device willbe maintained even upon rupture of the aforementioned lever, andadditionally avoids recoil of the breechblock when the catch device isnot actuated.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of theinvention, which will become more readily apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the invention contemplates the provision of a second catchelement which can be engaged from behind by the aforesaid blockingelement, and when such catch element is engaged it is moved against theforce of a first spring into the path of travel of the breechblock.Further, the firstmentioned catch element in the non-engaged conditionextends under the influence of the force of a second spring into thepath of the breechblock and the breechblock is caught by the secondcatch element at a different location than by the first catch element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be betterunderstood and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawings wherein.

FIG. 1 is an axial longitudinal sectional view through a portion of afiring weapon or gun with the breechblock or breech mechanism located inits firing position;

FIG. 2 illustrates the arrangement of FIG. 1, however with thebreechblock or breech mechanism in front of the firing position, i.e.forwardly in the catch position;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now thedrawings, according to the showing of FIG. 1 a bipartite breechmechanism or breechblock 2, 3 is located in a breechblock housing 1,this bipartite breechblock comprising a breechblock head 2 and a controlelement 3. The breechblock 2, 3 is displaceable within the breechblockhousing 1. At the control element or member 3 there is secured a firingpin 4. According to the showing of FIGS. 3 and 4, the control element 3,through which extends the vertical longitudinal central plane of theweapon, is displaceably mounted in a recess or chamber 5 of thebreechblock head 2 and is in driving connection, through the agency of arespective protuberance or projection 6 (FIG. 4), with a couplingelement or piece 7. The coupling element 7 is arranged in a chamberformed by a web 8 of the breechblock head 2 and a side wall of thebreechblock housing 1. The coupling element 7 is in driving connection,through the agency of a cam or dog 9, with a respective sleeve 10arranged externally of the breechblock housing 1. The cam 9 is securedto the associated sleeve 10 and extends through the breechblock housing1 into an associated recess 11 of the coupling element 7. The recess 11of the coupling element 7 arranged at the left side of the weapon or gun(viewed in the firing direction thereof) is wider than the cam or dog 9which engages therein, as best recognized by referring to FIG. 3. At theright side of the weapon the cam 9 engages without play into the recess11 of such coupling element 7.

As best seen by referring to FIG. 6, each of the sleeves or sleevemembers 10 is displaceably mounted in a support or carrier 12. A closingspring 13 arranged internally of its associated sleeve 10 bears at oneend at the front of such sleeve 10 and at the other end of the rear ofthe associated carrier or support 12, which has not been particularlyshown in the drawing, and strives to forwardly displace the sleeve 10.

According to the showing of FIG. 6 the carriers or supports 12 areconnected by bolts 14 or equivalent fastening expedients with thebreechblock housing 1. The breechblock head 2 possesses two recesses 2ain which there are pivotably arranged the respective blocking bolts 15.At the breechblock housing 1 there are provided two recesses 1a havingthe engagement or arresting surfaces 16.

According to the showing of FIGS. 5 and 6 the front ends of the sleeves10 each possess a projection or extension 17 at the side directedtowards the breechblock housing 1, and each of which projections isbounded towards the front by a surface 18 directed perpendicular to thecentral plane of the weapon and by a surface 19 disposed parallel tosuch central plane. At the sleeves there is milled or otherwise suitablymachined a surface which connects both surfaces 18, 19 and serves as astop.

The breechblock housing 1 possesses at its underside a notched or cut-inportion 21 which is bounded at the rear by a surface 22 directedperpendicular to the central plane of the weapon. At the region of thebase or floor surface 23 of the breechblock housing 1 there is cut-in agroove 24 into such breechblock housing 1. The plane of symmetry of thefront portion of the groove 24 and the central plane of the breechblockhousing 1 coincide. A tapered or narrowed portion of the groove 24 isbounded by a surface 25 which coincides with the central plane of thebreechblock housing 1. The groove 24 possesses at its rear end a widenedportion 26 having a surface 27. The surface 27 is located in a planewhich, together with the longitudinal central plane of the weapon,encloses an acute angle.

A slot 28 is milled or otherwise appropriately machined into thebreechblock housing 1 from the left side surface. The plane of symmetryof the slot 28 opening into the groove 24 is perpendicular to thelongitudinal central plane of the weapon. A catch element 29 constructedas a double-arm lever is arranged in the slot 28 and rotatably mountedupon a pivot pin or axle 30. A bushing 31 is displaceably mounted in ablindhole bore 33 of an arm 32 of the catch lever 29. Bushing 31 isloaded by a spring 34 which bears at the base of the bore 33 and extendsout of the lever. Due to the pressure of the spring 33 the lever arm 32and the bushing 31 bear against both surfaces 25 and 27 of thebreechblock housing 1. A surface 35 of the lever 29, in its restposition, is in alignment with a wall of the groove 24.

The lever arm 36 of the catch lever 29 extends out of the slot 28 andinto the displacement path of the sleeve 10, as best seen by referringto FIG. 6. The arm 36 possesses a surface 37 located in a plane whichencloses together with the longitudinal central plane of the weapon anacute angle of the same magnitude as the plane containing the surface 20of the sleeve 10. Furthermore, the surface 37 is located perpendicularto the base or floor surface 23 of the breechblock housing 1. The catchlever 29 possesses a bevelled or inclined surface 38 which becomes widerfrom the rear towards the front and connects the inner surface 35 withthe lower surface.

As clearly shown in FIG. 7, a blocking lever 39 is provided whichpossesses the same width as the groove 24 and is arranged therein.Blocking lever 39 is pivotably mounted upon a pivot pin or axle 40 whichis secured in the breechblock housing 1. The blocking lever 39 possessesan upwardly depending extension or projection 42 and two side surfaceswhich are parallel to the central plane of the weapon. A bushing 43 isdisplaceably mounted in a blindhole bore 44 of the blocking lever 39.Bushing 43 extends out of the bore 44 and bears, under the pressure of aspring 45 arranged therein, at the base surface 46 of the groove 24 ofthe breechblock housing 1. The blocking lever 39 is held by the spring45 to bear with its surface 47 at the groove surface 46 and thus isretained in its rest position.

The breechblock housing 1 possesses a bore 48 which opens into its rightside surface and into the groove 24. The axis of this bore 48 isperpendicular to the central plane of the weapon and is located in thelongitudinal symmetry plane of the slot 28. The bore 48 is stepped indiameter, wherein the section 48a with the larger diameter is located atthe region of the groove 24. A bolt 49 is displaceably mounted in bore48. According to the showing of FIG. 6, the end surface of the bolt endwhich extends into the groove 24 is bevelled or inclined, so that thebevelled surface 50 located beneath the axis of the bolt is located in aplane which encloses an acute angle with the longitudinal central planeof the weapon. A biased or stressed spring 53 which is arranged in thebore 48 between a bore offset or recessed portion 51 and a shoulder 52of the bolt 49 presses the bolt 29, with its lowermost portion of thebevelled surface 50, against the upper edge of the extension orprojection 42 of the blocking lever 39. An end surface 490 of the bolt29 is in alignment with the right side wall of the breechblockhousing 1. This bolt end possesses a bevelled or inclined surface 54which together with the central plane of the weapon encloses an angle ofthe same magnitude as the surface 37 of the catch lever 29. Theintersection lines of the planes, in which such surfaces 37 and 54 lie,together with the longitudinal central plane of the weapon, areperpendicular to the base surface 23 of the breechblock housing 1. A pin56 arranged in a bore of the breechblock housing 1 engages with alongitudinal groove 57 of the bolt 49 and prevents rotation thereofabout its longitudinal axis.

The breechblock housing 1 is mounted in any suitable and therefore notparticularly illustrated manner at a rocker or balance designated byreference character 58 in FIG. 7. A hydraulic cylinder 59 possesses twoparallel walls 60 connected with the rocker or balance 58. Two identicaldouble-arm angle levers 61 are pivotably mounted at two parallel pivotpins or axles 62. The arms 63 of the levers 61 are articulated with thepivot pins or axles 64 which are connected with the legs of a U-shapedrail 65. A blindhole bore 66 of the cylinder 59 is closed by a sealingscrew 67. The piston rod 69 of a piston 68 arranged in the cylindercompartment or bore 66 of the cylinder 59 extends through the floor ofsuch cylinder towards the outside. A rectangular coupling element 70 isconnected with the piston rod 69 and possesses a slot 71 and a shaft oraxle 72 which extends through the slot 71. A cylindrical extension orprojection 74 of a bifurcated or forked member 73 is threadablyconnected with the coupling element 70. A shaft or axle 75 is connectedwith the bifurcated member 73. The arms 76 of the angle levers 61 areparallel and hingedly connected or articulated with the shafts or axles72 and 75, as shown. A restoring or return spring 77 is spanned betweena transverse wall 78 connected with the side walls 60 and the couplingelement 70. The bifurcated member 73 bears under the pressure of thespring 77 against the transverse wall 78. The longitudinal centralplanes of the U-shaped rail 65 and the groove 24 of the breechblockhousing 1 coincide. The top or cover surface 79 of the rail 65 isparallel to the bottom or base surface 23 of the breechblock housing 1and is at a small spacing therefrom and the blocking lever 39.

A two-way valve 80 is operatively connected into a hydraulic circuit andcan be actuated by a switching or control lever 81. In the rest position(FIG. 7) the vaive 80 flow communicates an annular or ring-shapedcompartment 82 appearing between the piston 68 and the sealing screw 67with a tank 83. Furthermore, a line or conduit 84 containing pressurizedoil or another suitable medium is operatively connected with the valve80, and with the conduit 84 there is operatively connected a pressurelimiting valve 85.

Having now had the benefit of the foregoing description of theconstruction of the invention its mode of operation will now beconsidered and is as follows:

During series firing and at the end of forward advance of thebreechblock body the breechblock head 2 is located in the breechblockhousing 1 at the location designated by reference character 86 inFIG. 1. The control element 3 moves further and displaceably controlsthe blocking bolts 15 towards the outside, so that such bear at thesurfaces 16 of the breechblock housing I and block the breechblock head2 against movement towards the rear. The control element 3 controls theblocking bolts 15 and prevents such from departing from the blockingposition, as the same has been depicted in FIG. 2. With this positionaccording to the showing of FIG. 2 the control element 3 has not yetreached its fowardmost position. The tip of the firing pin 4 is stilllocated behind the base of a cartridge or shell 89 which has beenintroduced through the breechblock head 2 into the cartridge chamber ofthe firing barrel 90 of the weapon and the front ends of the sleevesassume the position depicted in FIG. 6. The surface 20 of the sleeve 10arranged at the left of the weapon (viewed in the firing direction)bears against the surface 37 of the catch lever 29 serving as the catchelement, so that the same is rocked about the axle or pin 30 in theclockwise direction. The left side sleeve 10 is retarded or delayed inrelation to the coupling element 7 which moves further along with thecontrol element 3 and also is delayed with regard to the right sidesleeve 10, so that the dog or cam 9 in the recess 11 moves towards therear against its wall 87. When the control element 3 has reached thefiring position of FIG. 1 then the firing pin 4 penetrates thenondepicted firing cap of the shell 89 and the control element 3 impactsagainst the breechblock head 2. At the moment of impact the end surface18 of the sleeve 10 arranged at the right side of the weapon is locateddirectly behind the surface 91 of its carrier or support 12, whereas thesurface 18 of the left side sleeve 10 still possesses a small spacingfrom the corresponding surface of its support 12. In the event that thecontrol element 3, after impact, carries out a recoil motion with regardto the breechblock head 2, then such comes to standstill when the stillforwardly moving left side sleeve 10 impacts with its cam 9 against thefront boundary or wall 88 of the recess 11 of the coupling element 7connected with the control element 3. The left side sleeve 10 thusfunctions as a post-impact mass which prevents that the control element3 will recoil such an extent that the blocking bolts 15 are no longercontrolled. The rotating catch element 29 impacts against the surface 27of the breechblock housing I, whereupon it is moved back again towardsthe starting position by the spring 34. The catch element 29 reaches thestarting position after the front end of the sleeve 10, which movestowards the rear under the driving force of a non-illustrated plunger,has passed the position depicted in FIG. 6.

For the purpose of securing the firing weapon against unintentionalfiring of a shot during a disturbance the valve 80 is adjusted by meansof the switching or control lever 81, so that the annular compartment 82of the cylinder is flow connected with the conduit 84 and the piston 68together with the coupling element 70 and the bifurcated member 73 aremoved towards the left (viewed in the showing of FIG. 7). Consequently,both of the levers 61 are rocked about the pins or axles 62 and theU-shaped rail 65 is raised. This rail 65 then comes into contact withthe blocking lever 39 and pivots such about the pin or axle 40. Theblocking lever 39 which acts upon the surface 50 of the bolt 49 pressessuch against the pressure of the spring 53 towards the outside, out ofthe groove 24. When the piston 68 has reached its extreme forwardposition then the bolt 49, defining a further catch element, iscompletely engaged from behind by the extension or projection 42 of theblocking lever 39. The other end of the catch bolt 49 with the bevelledsurface 54 extends out of the breechblock housing 1 into the path of theassoicated sleeve 10, as such has been depicted in phantom lines in FIG.5.

By means of the lever extension or projection 42 the catch element 29 isalso engaged from behind and in the event that such has previouslyentered the groove 24 such is moved out of the groove 24 into theposition of FIG. 6 due to travel onto the surface 38.

The breechblock head 2 of the breechblock moving towards the firingposition reaches its forwardmost position and afterwards the surface 18of the left side sleeve 10 impacts against the surface 37 of the catchlever 29.

The control element 3, however, moves faster towards the front togetherwith the right side sleeve 10, until the surface 87 of the couplingelement 7 impacts against the dog or cam 9 of the left sleeve 10 whichpreviously has been stopped by the lever 29 and thus the control element3 is caught in a position in which the tip of the firing pin 4 is stilllocated behind the base of the shell or cartridge 89 which has beenintroduced into the cartridge chamber. At the end of the movement of theright side sleeve 10 its surface 18, which has been shown in phantomlines in FIG. 6, is located directly behind the bevelled surface 54 ofthe bolt 49. Upon rupture of the catch lever 29 the catch bolt 49 canthus catch the control element 3 and prevent that the shell 89 in thecartridge chamber will be fired.

With renewed adjustment of the valve the compartment or chamber 82 ofthe cylinder 59 is again flow connected with the tank 83 and the catchdevice is returned back into the starting position under the influenceof the springs 45, S3 and 77, in which its components 39, 49, 65, 68assume the positions depicted in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

1. A catch device for an automatic firing weapon comprising abreechblock displaceable from a rear position into a firing position, apivotal first catch element which when assuming its catch positionextends into the path of travel of the breechblock, a blocking ele mentwhich can engage the catch element from behind for catching thebreechblock shortly prior to reaching its firing position, a secondcatch element which can be engaged from behind by the blocking element,a first spring and a second spring, said second catch element, when theblocking element is engaged therebehind, being moved against the forceof the first spring into the path of the breechblock, said first catchelement, when the blocking element does not engage therebehind,extending under the force of the second spring into the path of thebreechblock, said breechblock being caught by the second catch elementat a different location than by the first catch element.

2. The catch device as defined in claim 1, further including meansincorporating intermediate elements for hydraulically engaging theblocking element behind the associated catch elements.

3. The catch device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first catchelement comprises a double-arm lever, the breechblock having a stop, onearm of the double-arm lever cooperating with said stop of thebreechblock, means defining a stationary surface, the other arm of thedouble-arm lever being supported via the second spring at saidstationary surface.

4. The catch device as defined in claim 1, wherein both catch elementshave inclined surfaces and are displaceable and engageable from behindvia said inclined surfaces and by means of said blocking element.

5. The catch device as defined in claim 1, wherein the breechblock iscaught by the first catch element at a location removed further from thefiring position than by the second catch element.

6. The catch device as defined in claim 1, wherein the second catchelement comprises a bolt member displaceable substantially perpendicularto the displacement path of the breechblock.

7. The catch device as defined in claim 2, wherein said hydraulicallyengaging means includes a piston rod and a hydraulic cylinder, saidintermediate elements comprising a first intermediate element in theform of a displaceable rail supported at the blocking element, thefurther intermediate elements comprising two similar double-arm anglelevers which are arranged substantially in parallelism with one another,one of their respective arms being hinged with said rail and the otherof their arms with said piston rod of said hydraulic cylinder.

1. A catch device for an automatic firing weapon comprising abreechblock displaceable from a rear position into a firing position, apivotal first catch element which when assuming its catch positionextends into the path of travel of the breechblock, a blocking elementwhich can engage the catch element from behind for catching thebreechblock shortly prior to reaching its firing position, a secondcatch element which can be engaged from behind by the blocking element,a first spring and a second spring, said second catch element, when theblocking element is engaged therebehind, being moved against the forceof the first spring into the path of the breechblock, said first catchelement, when the blocking element does not engage therebehind,extending under the force of the second spring into the path of thebreechblock, said breechblock being caught by the second catch elementat a different location than by the first catch element.
 2. The catchdevice as defined in claim 1, further including means incorporatingintermediate elements for hydraulically engaging the blocking elementbehind the associated catch elements.
 3. The catch device as defined inclaim 1, wherein the first catch element comprises a double-arm lever,the breechblock having a stop, one arm of the double-arm levercooperating with said stop of the breechblock, means defining astationary surface, the other arm of the double-arm lever beingsupported via the second spring at said stationary surface.
 4. The catchdevice as defined in claim 1, wherein both catch elements have inclinedsurfaces and are displaceable and engageable from behind via saidinclined surfaces and by means of said blocking element.
 5. The catchdevice as defined in claim 1, wherein the breechblock is caught by thefirst catch element at a location removed further from the firingposition than by the second catch element.
 6. The catch device asdefined in claim 1, wherein the second catch element comprises a boltmember displaceable substantially perpendicular to the displacement pathof the breechblock.
 7. The catch device as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid hydraulically engaging means includes a piston rod and a hydrauliccylinder, said intermediate elements comprising a first intermediateelement in the form of a displaceable rail supported at the blockingelement, the further intermediate elements comprising two similardouble-arm angle levers which are arranged substantially in parallelismwith one another, one of their respective arms being hinged with saidrail and the other of their arms with said piston rod of said hydrauliccylinder.